“Hürkuş” Accomplished Spin and High-Speed Test
The New Generation Trainer Aircraft, “Hürkuş”, designed by engineers, developed and produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc.(TAI), have reached a crucial and critical stage in the ongoing process of flight tests.
Following Hürkuş ‘s first flight on 29 August 2013, testing the spin and safe recovery, often referred to as a ‘tail spin’ due to an abnormal flight situation, began at TAI’s Akıcı facilities in Ankara, conducted under normal flight conditions.
More than 500 demanding and difficult spin tests will be conducted; where the test pilot deliberately removes the aircraft from normal flight conditions, introducing this abnormal flight condition, to determine the recovery techniques from this dangerous situation.
Within this necessary high-risk test, measures are taken in order to safeguard the Hürkuş and the test pilot; a Spin/Stall Recovery Parachute System is equipped in the aircraft’s tail.
On January 20, 2016, the indicators at the TAI Telemetry Center and the cameras on the aircraft captured HÜRKUŞ’s first spin tests, the “dangerous dance” with the clouds. This dangerous dance of the first Hürkuş TC-VCH was witnessed by the second TC-VCI that was closely following from the air.
As expected, with the successful results and the completion of the first tests, test process will be repeated in different configurations and conditions and will continue in the coming days.
Hürkuş Set a High-Speed Record in February
The critical high-speed test has been passed after the accomplished of spin test at the end of February. Hürkuş, set a record high speed of 659 kilometers per hour on Feb. 28 in a test flight in Ankara. The two-seat Hürkuş began a dive from 27,000 feet (9,000 meters) at the test site, reaching a top speed of 659 km per hour during the dive. The Hürkuş was accompanied by an F-16D owned by the Turkish Air Force.
